Originally posted December 3, 2014. Revised and updated December 14, 2016.
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In my opinion, truffles are the ultimate dessert.
Not only can they can be made ahead of time, but their bite-sized portions make them just the right size to share at dinner parties and get-togethers this holiday season.
This time, we’re making boozy truffles that will be a hit with the adults (the kids will just have to sit this one out).
If you like whiskey and chocolate, then you’ll definitely love these decadent homemade candies, with a hint of whiskey flavor and a coating of cocoa powder.
The filling is made with crushed vanilla wafers, processed pecans, corn syrup, cocoa powder, and whiskey.
You just have to mix the ingredients together until they are combined before shaping them into small balls, then coat them in powdered sugar and fry them.
Yup, you heard me right. Rather unconventional for a candy recipe perhaps, but the results are fantastic!
Once they’re a nice golden brown with a hint of toasty flavor, coat them in cocoa powder and they’re good to go!
See how easy it is to make them? Ready to make your own truffles now? Let’s head straight to the recipe!
The Recipe
| Servings | Prep Time |
| 12 truffles | 25 minutes |
| Cook Time |
| 5 minutes |
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If you like whiskey and chocolate, then these truffles with a hint of whiskey and a coating of cocoa powder are the perfect dessert this holiday season!
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- 11 ounces vanilla wafers
- 1 cup pecans
- 3 tablespoons corn syrup (light or dark Karo)
- 3 tablespoons cocoa powder plus more for coating
- 1/3 cup whiskey or bourbon
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1 cup Powdered sugar
- Break the vanilla wafers into small pieces with your hands. Place the pieces in your food processor* or blender and pulse until you get fine crumbs, then transfer to a bowl and set aside.
- Process the pecans in the food processor or blender until you get a coarse meal.
- Combine the wafer crumbs and processed pecans in a large mixing bowl. Add the corn syrup, cocoa powder, whiskey, and vegetable oil.
- Mix the ingredients together with a spoon until they are well combined. If the mixture is too dry, add one tablespoon of water at a time until it comes together and can be shaped into balls.
- Use a tablespoon or melon baller to scoop out equal portions of the mixture and then roll them into little balls.
- Place the powdered sugar in a shallow dish and roll the balls in the sugar to coat. Let them dry on a plate on the counter before rolling them in powdered sugar again.
- Coat the bottom of a nonstick skillet with vegetable oil and place it over medium heat. Fry the balls in the skillet until they are golden brown, then coat them in cocoa powder before serving.
*If you don't have access to a food processor, you can place the pecans in a Ziploc bag and crush them that way. To do this, place the bag between a doubled towel and use a meat mallet or hammer to pound the nuts to their desired degree.
Nutritional Information*
Cooking By the Numbers…
Step 1 –Prepare Your Mise en Place
First, prepare your ingredients.
Set out the vanilla wafers, pecans, karo syrup, cocoa powder, whiskey, vegetable oil, and powdered sugar, and measure the quantities that you will need to make this recipe.
Step 2 – Process the Vanilla Wafers and Pecans
Use your hands to break the vanilla wafers into small pieces.
Place them in the bowl of your food processor or blender, and process them until you get fine crumbs.
Transfer the crumbs to a bowl and set them aside.
Process the pecans in the food processor or blender until you get a coarse nut meal.
Step 3 – Combine the Ingredients
Combine the wafer crumbs and processed pecans in a large mixing bowl. Add the corn syrup, cocoa powder, whiskey, and vegetable oil.
Use a spoon to mix the ingredients together until they are well combined.
If the mixture is too dry, add one tablespoon of water at a time until it comes together.
Step 4 – Form the Truffles
Use a tablespoon or a melon baller, or even a small ice cream scoop, to scoop out equally sized portions of the mixture.
Roll them into small, smooth balls.
Step 5 – Roll in Powdered Sugar
Roll each ball in powdered sugar to coat, and then place on a plate to dry.
Then roll them once more in powdered sugar.
Step 6 – Fry and Coat Them
Coat a nonstick skillet with vegetable oil and place it over medium heat.
Fry the truffles until they are golden brown, then coat them with cocoa powder.
If you prefer, you can coat them with more powdered sugar or even ground espresso powder instead. A selection of all three looks really nice on a dessert platter piled with cookies and other holiday treats.
Serve and Enjoy!
These delicious truffles are a decadent, sweet treat to serve your guests this holiday season. They may take a little time to put together, but you will be so satisfied with the results – this one’s sure to be a winner that they ask for again and again!
If you really love booze with your chocolate, we also recommend these white chocolate coconut delights. Sure, some might say the white variety isn’t really chocolate at all, but these truffles are also made with rum-soaked cookies or biscuits.
How else do you like to use whiskey in desserts? Let us know in the comments below!
Truffles galore! Get even more of our favorite bite-sized chocolate treats:
- White Chocolate Almond Flour Blueberry
- Adaptable Dark Chocolate
- White Chocolate Pumpkin Pie
- Dark Chocolate Hazelnut
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Photos by Felicia Lim, © Ask the Experts, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. See our TOS for more details.
*Nutritional information derived from a database of known generic and branded foods and ingredients and was not compiled by a registered dietitian or submitted for lab testing. It should be viewed as an approximation.
About Felicia Lim
Felicia Lim is a Singaporean who moved to Argentina for love. Based in Buenos Aires, also known as “the Paris of South America,” she fills her days with freelance writing, recipe development, and food photography – three passions that give her endless joy. When she isn’t typing away at her computer, cooking in the kitchen, or shooting in her balcony-studio, you can probably find her curled up on the couch, lost in the pages of a good book.
I make a similar version of these but with bourbon. They are always the first thing to go around the holidays. I have to agree with you that eggnog is the perfect companion to these delectable treats. Also, I roll mine in regular sugar. I have never thought to use sprinkles and chocolate drink mix, I am going to have to try this when I make mine. I wonder if hot chocolate would work too since they have so many different flavors out there?
As a renowned chocoholic who eats truffles whenever possible, I have to admit I have never made them, but I should try. As there is no much cooking involved and no cream in these as in other recipes I have no excuse not to try them.
I will probably add a little more cocoa and chocolate and also chocolate flakes to coat them!
My boss made rum balls for our Thanksgiving party. I had heard of rum cake, so I thought they would be cake balls. Oh man, was I wrong. Since there is no cooking involved, the alcohol doesn’t get cooked out. They were quite potent. My lips started tingling, and all the ladies in the office were having a good time.
These tasted great! I accidentally gave one to my five year old cousin, and she threw it at my face, after realizing that she didn’t like it (Whiskey and a five-year-old; not a good combination) so I can also add that they make for surprisingly hard projectiles if need be. In all seriousness though, these are wonderful, and I’m definitely keeping the recipe in case I need some quick party snacks, or just for a day where I feel I particularly deserve special treatment. The latter is probably more likely.
So sorry for the mishap right there, hope the mom did not realize what you had done?! I am just wondering though, would there be an alternative to not using whiskey or any other alcoholic drink, so that the kids and those who have reservations when it comes to alcohol might indulge in the festive tasty truffles?
i have never had any kind of dessert with alcohol in it yet, but these sound really good. If I make them for Christmas I will have to make sure we put them up high. We usually have a buffet table and the kids just run around grabbing treats. We don’t want a bunch of hungover kids on Christmas morning! 🙂
Love these, whiskey and truffles sounds like my type of combination! I wonder if I can add cinnamon or some kind of fruity flavor to it, at least it sounds like a good idea to me.
I remember eating sweets with alcohol in them as a kid and getting slightly tipsy, lol.
I have never heard of these but the recipe sounds delicious. Not sure if I’ll get to make them this season though.
These look so easy to make, and sound so tasty. My daughter loves truffles more than any other type of confection. She also likes a social drink occasionally. I think I’ll make a batch of these and include some in her Christmas gift. Thank you for this recipe.
Do you know, I think this blog is psychic! I’ve been thinking all day about what to give my son-in-law that isn’t on his online wish list, just so he has a surprise on Xmas morning and I think these truffle balls will be exactly what’s needed. I’ve actually bought him a pewter mug, so I think I’l make these and fill the mug for him and there just might be one or two left over for the cook!! Thanks very much for the inspiration : -)
Oh my goodness. These sound extremely rich and tasty. They are definitely different, which is nice. It’s nice to change things up for festive occasions once in a while, even though around here I still need to make all the traditional stuff as well.
I might just treat myself and some friends to a batch of these though. I’ve been needing to find some motivation to bake, and I’m certainly finding it here on these pages!
I love these, though I would probably substitute whisky for something else… I only like advocaat in candies.
Everything else ruins the sweetness.
This is yet another recipe that I first heard from Foodal. Truffles are not common where I come from. The closest I think we have of this dessert is a munchkin. But I don’t think munchkins are cooked this way, though. Am not sure though. But they’re really something that I enjoy. I’m not sure about the whiskey though.
Can I freeze these?
Hi Bethany, Thanks for your question! Yes, these can be frozen in an airtight container for a few months. Just defrost on the counter before serving. Enjoy!